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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

17 Reasons to Eat Your Broccoli, Health Benefits, and Recipes

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Poor broccoli is one of the most often rejected foods on many kids’ and adults’ plates. It is held up as one of the most well-known health foods, so it is also quickly despised by those who are sick of healthy foods being shoved in their faces. That’s a real shame.

Broccoli has a lot to offer, both in the nutrients locked inside each green floret and in the flavors you can coax out of this relative to cabbage and cauliflower. Don’t give in to those negative feelings for this common superfood. It’s worth exploring.

Cancer – Broccoli reduces inflammation and oxidative stress while aiding natural detox. Antioxidants like indole-3-carbinol protect against cellular damage that causes many cancers. Broccoli also contains glucoraphanin which is converted into sulforaphane, a sulfur compound that kills bacteria known to increase cancer risks. It also reduces damage from the sun, removes toxins, and regulates the methylation of DNA.

Cholesterol – The soluble fiber in broccoli binds to and removes cholesterol during digestion, especially when lightly steamed.

Detoxify – Glucosinolate phytonutrients, like glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiin, and glucobrassicin found in broccoli, help detox at the genetic level on up.

Balance Vitamin D – The vitamin K and vitamin A in broccoli help control the levels and effects of vitamin D throughout the body.

Antioxidant – The antioxidant powers of broccoli deserve another mention since they help the body resist much more than cancer. Vitamin C and carotenoids like zeaxanthin, lutein, and beta carotene are plentiful in our friendly broccoli florets.

Heart – Sulforaphane reduces the inflammation of blood vessels and prevents or reverses the damage to the linings of these vital vessels. Lutein prevents the thickening of the arteries while B6 and folate help control heart palpitations.

Nerves – The potassium, healthy fatty acids, and B vitamins in broccoli are good for the nervous system, keeping those signals firing and our nerve cells healthy.

Immunity – The sulfur compounds in cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli bolster the immune system and inhibit bacteria. Vitamin C, beta carotene, and the trace minerals zinc and selenium all play a role in immune system health too.

Alkalize – The nutrients and minerals in broccoli can help alkalize your system.

Broccoli is at its best as sprouts or microgreens, but it is still healthy steamed or lightly cooked. It is also more delicious than it gets credit for. Feel free to try these amazing broccoli recipes to see for yourself.

Claims on this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. Information on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Sunwarrior’s awesome expert writers do not replace doctors and don’t always cite studies, so do your research, as is wise. Seek the advice of a medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle or diet.

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Charlie Pulsipher is a health and fitness enthusiast, writer, author, and neighborhood do-gooder. He shifted his education from Biochemistry to English Literature in an attempt to avoid math, but never stopped loving the natural world of the miniscule. He has published several fantasy and science fiction novels and helped others publish more down to earth books about natural foods. He can’t stop writing. He is probably happily tapping away on some keyboard even now.